When your front struts are shot and need to be replaced what will one notice?

Front end has extream toe-out problem?
Steering very heavy?
Bottoming out lots?
Difficulty going where one wants to go?

Think my struts are blown,
Steve

 

if they dont rebound when you push them down or they keep bouncing. sometimes you can see the oil leaking out of them.

 

Will the struts from a 2005 700/800 work on a 2000 500? I know it may be stiffer, but will they slide in and work as a replacement for the 500s. Found a set of 700/800 strut assemblies on Ebay for a really good price and bid on them and now I am wondering if they are going to work, I know stupid
:-O

If no one knows then I guess I will find out!

Edit:
I just went to Ronnies and found out the 2005 800 uses:
18X30 mm 184.7mm LT part number 7041762

and the 2000 500 uses:
18X30 mm 153.8 mm ST part number 704761

Is the 153.8 and 184.7 the amount of travel?
What is ST or LT?

Steve

 

In 05 the Sportmans changed from a 6.7" travel struts to a 8.2" travel. I added the heavy duty front and back springs to my 2001 . I think they are the same springs used on the 2002-2004 700 Sportsmans.